Well, I was mouthing off again........

D

DOC-CANADA

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Apr 14, 2006
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over in W&SS, berating tonym for not getting off his ass and working on the hand drill. Tony was up here (Ontario) back in the summer and we tried to get him his first hand drill coal, but despite his best efforts, he got skunked.

So anyway, I was telling him to get off his ass (his favourite position, or so it seems) - seen here - starting at post 10, and because of the Labatt's 5.5 I was drinking, I thought I should whip up a hand drill coal and shame the girly man. The problem, of course, is what is normally difficult, is doubly difficult when under the spell of the 'demon rum'...............

On top of which, I thought it would be only appropriate, being the first attempt of 2011, that I should use my all-time favourite blade, the Cincinnati Becker Machax. You all have heard the saying, "A big knife can do the work of a small knife, but a small knife.............." So anyway,

OK, I'm a little juiced, so let's see what happens...............

I haven't done a hand drill coal for quite awhile and attempting it when you're drinking can be counter productive. However, when you're drinking, who gives a sh.....? :D

So here are the tools: Becker Machax (thought I would show how a big knife can be used like a small one), hearth (probably Eastern Cottonwood - Populus deltoides) and drill (Common Teasel - Dipsacus sylvestris).

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Here is the divot after the drill profile has been burnt in. This allows you to know where to position the all-important notch.

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The notch cut in (using the Machax):

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You will notice I save the char created by burning in the drill profile - this helps to build up the mass of char. Why work harder than you have to?? :D

Here you'll see the char mass growing in size. The divot has started socketing and a noticeable hump is forming in the centre of the divot. Both have to be removed to reduce the non-productive friction, and optimize the productive stuff.

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This is with the hump removed and the divot ovaled out to reduce the friction on the side of the drill.

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Success! I must admit I'm a little surprised because of the booze - doing the hand drill when you've been drinking, kicks the heck out of you.

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A better look:

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My first coal of 2011! Wish I had another beer to celebrate.......... :(

Take that, GS (tony)! :D

Doc
 
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Doc, I want to go record RIGHT NOW, as saying, you's a bad Mutha. I been trying to get coal hand drilling for about 4 mos now. Lots of smoke, lots of sweat, and nothing, I mean nothing to show.

'Ol Man, you got the chops, no doubt. I think my problem is material. I got so good with a bow drill, I can walk into wet woods and make fire with just a knife. Actually, its easier in the cold, wet, because my natty cordage works better. But with Paracord (I always got para), 30 mins max for a roaring fire.

Hand drills kick my ass, not because its hard to do, but mostly because I think I'm using crap for material.

Doc, you's a bad man. I gots a pound of respect for ya.

Moose

PS, whats them 4 notches for? Kills or women?
 
that's a nice cordless drill you got there.

making fire coals in the middle of your living room rug is badass :)

nothing smells of success like burninated rug :)
 
Mad props to Doctor Machax! I've got to get better with the bow drill before I even attempt this. But just for my info, where does one find Teasel?
 
Guyon said:
Mad props to Doctor Machax! I've got to get better with the bow drill before I even attempt this. But just for my info, where does one find Teasel?
Click to expand...

Think river cane or light bamboo. That's what I calls it. I been trying Willow and Basswood, and I should be calling it "WTF were you thinking".

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
Doc, I want to go record RIGHT NOW, as saying, you's a bad Mutha. I been trying to get coal hand drilling for about 4 mos now. Lots of smoke, lots of sweat, and nothing, I mean nothing to show.

'Ol Man, you got the chops, no doubt. I think my problem is material. I got so good with a bow drill, I can walk into wet woods and make fire with just a knife. Actually, its easier in the cold, wet, because my natty cordage works better. But with Paracord (I always got para), 30 mins max for a roaring fire.

Hand drills kick my ass, not because its hard to do, but mostly because I think I'm using crap for material.

Doc, you's a bad man. I gots a pound of respect for ya.

Moose

PS, whats them 4 notches for? Kills or women?
Click to expand...

Thanks a million Moose. A nice compliment coming from you. Compared to bow drill, it is harder because you're using largely unused muscles. The single best advice I can give you is to keep practising - doesn't matter if you get the coal, at first, but you will be building up the particular muscle endurance required.

One other thing, if you've ever taken martial arts, they usually teach you to reverse punch with relaxed shoulders. This is important for hand drill, as well. By unnecessarily tensing muscles, you're contributing to early muscle fatigue.

As for the 4 notches, you'd have to ask Ethan - they were there when I bought it (new). I'm guessing to facilitate a better grip???? If it was women, I'd need much larger handles. :rolleyes: :D

Doc
 
Guyon said:
Mad props to Doctor Machax! I've got to get better with the bow drill before I even attempt this. But just for my info, where does one find Teasel?
Click to expand...

moosez45 said:
Think river cane or light bamboo. That's what I calls it. I been trying Willow and Basswood, and I should be calling it "WTF were you thinking".

Moose
Click to expand...

Here's a link to the distribution map for Common Teasel (also called D. fullonum - may be a small species difference with D. sylvestris, or maybe not).

My all time favourite hand drill is Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa). I have a post somewhere in BF with successful combinations I've used. Probably can find it, if you're interested.

And moose, Basswood (Tilia americana) is my favourite hearth material.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Here's a link to the distribution map for Common Teasel (also called D. fullonum - may be a small species difference with D. sylvestris, or maybe not).

My all time favourite hand drill is Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa). I have a post somewhere in BF with successful combinations I've used. Probably can find it, if you're interested.

And moose, Basswood (Tilia americana) is my favourite hearth material.

Doc
Click to expand...

Doc, I like 1)cedar, we gots tons, tons of them here, 2) Willow, its just "sticky" when it comes to friction 3) Basswood, mainly, 'cause I can't spot'em. Tricky bastids.

Mad props Doc, in youth lingo, means I want to be you when it comes to hand drills. I'm 33 by the way.

Moose
 
Oh come on guys. Im 13 and I can do the hand drill better then some of you. I think Ive gotten a coal about 10 times now. My fireboard of choice is poplar, and a yucca spindle. Knife used for the notch- Condor Bushcraft basic 4"

Look at it this way though. I cant make crap with the bowdrill, but Im a handdrill masta.

My technique is really simple. I cut a notch in the top of the spindle, then take a 7-9" piece of paracord (ive also used a shoestring) and make 2 thumb loops. Put a thumb in each loop, and sit the paracord in the notch. Then I just sit down, with my left foot over the board.

The purpose of the paracord thumb loop thing is to apply downward pressure, without having to deal with the muscle fatigue of your hands moving down the spindle and having to go to the top, not to mention the fact that when you stop that constant pressure to put your hands at the top, everything cools down.

With my method, I can get a large coal in about 45 seconds.
 
There is definitely a technique to this, and maybe the rod materials are critical too.


I once tried this with an electric drill and 2x4, just to see if it could be done.

I drilled for 45 minutes and got the dust, but never a coal..
 
moosez45 said:
Doc, I like 1)cedar, we gots tons, tons of them here, 2) Willow, its just "sticky" when it comes to friction 3) Basswood, mainly, 'cause I can't spot'em. Tricky bastids.

Mad props Doc, in youth lingo, means I want to be you when it comes to hand drills. I'm 33 by the way.

Moose
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33? I wish I was 33 :( - 65 on Earth Day (yes, my birthday is on Earth Day, which I think is kind of cool). BTW, here is the link to when tonym visited the Great White North. :D

A little more information about Basswood. Please forgive my use of my hike notes, as it's just much easier (have to rest up now :rolleyes: :D )

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tilia americana

This is the Basswood tree. The bright red, waxy buds of the Basswood often served as famine food to the Native Americans during the Hunger Month of February. The buds may be eaten raw or cooked and make a very mucilaginous but agreeable food. (WL268) The inner bark was also used as a famine food. (WL307) On a brighter note, if you steep a handful of the flowers in a cup of water, it supposedly makes, at least according to one author, one of the best tasting herbal teas in the world, and a strong infusion is very relaxing. (WM63) It's been used for nervousness, stress, high blood pressure, headache, and insomnia, (WM63) and for many other ailments. There is a warning, however, that frequent consumption of flower tea may cause heart damage. (EC288) Utility-wise, the wood is very soft and easy to carve. It's been used to make spoons, bowls, and dishes. It is also a very good wood for making friction fire, both as a drill and as a hearth.

The other part of the Basswood used for utility applications, was the bark. It was used as splints for basketmaking (OJ61), but most importantly, the fibres from the inner bark were used for cordage, i.e. rope, string, twine, etc. These fibres were obtained by removing the bark from the tree and soaking it in a lake or river for 7-10 days, (WL299) at which time, the inner bark could be readily separated from the outer. The inner bark could be further processed for width and thickness. Sometimes, it was also boiled, which was supposed to make it stronger. Due to the fibre lengths, strength, and availability, Basswood was a most important cordage material to the native peoples of the Western Great Lakes region. (PG185) They used this cordage for things like shelter construction, matting, baskets, bags, fish nets (KS-56-1915), traps and snares, and pretty well anything else they needed cordage for.
By the way, did anybody cut themselves today? You see, another interesting application for Basswood fibres was the suturing of wounds (KS-56-1915), and I've never tried it yet...........

So, this is only one of many plant sources, in our area, capable of making cordage, but it its one of the two best. We'll see the other one shortly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Doc
 
12345678910 said:
There is definitely a technique to this, and maybe the rod materials are critical too.


I once tried this with an electric drill and 2x4, just to see if it could be done.

I drilled for 45 minutes and got the dust, but never a coal..
Click to expand...

One of the reasons could be that a drill revolves in one direction. A hand drill and bow drill oscillates. One theory is that it is in the regrinding of the char, that a coal is produced.

Doc
 
Thanks Doc!!!
I have been trying to use Bull Teasel sinse your post several months back , but I am still a no go!!
I just get pissed and go for the mullein!
 
jcl-MD said:
Thanks Doc!!!
I have been trying to use Bull Teasel sinse your post several months back , but I am still a no go!!
I just get pissed and go for the mullein!
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jcl-MD, I'm getting the feeling you're confusing Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) with Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). They are different plants, but both are good for hand drills.

Doc
 
I didn't know it was "call Tonym out day"..

Pay no attention to my drunkard GP, the true reason he is a master of the handrill is because of all the other solitary activities he does with his hands. Makes perfect sense that the 13 year old is good at handrill as well. Lets think, what activities were we all doing at 13.....

All this extra hand excersize is obviously great practice for the hand drill.

So yes I have never gotten the hand drill, forgive me for still being attractive to the opposite sex, and not excersizing the rapid hand motion needed for the hand drill every day.

I will never be 13 again, but maybe one day when I am as old and ugly as my GP, I will finally get the hand drill.

:thumbup:;)

In the mean time, I will knock out a bow drill faster than a Moose in a red dress! (sorry I forgot, it's a kilt :rolleyes: )

:D:cool:







By the way, I know allot of you on the Becker forum don't know me, but I have the highest respect for the old man that started the thread. He is the closest thing I have to a Mentor, and is responsible for much of the little skills I know.
 
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That is awesome Doc, I need to do more practice with the hand drill. Like Moose so far nothing but smoke and sweat. I spent all summer and fall looking for this illusive Teasel you speak of and Mullein...finally found one small Mullein stalk. I'm thinking this was a "between" year for the Mullein, and Hoping next year will be better. I may have to go a little further north to find the Teasel. Next post I see you do on harvesting the Teasel I'm going to snag the photos.
 
mistwalker said:
That is awesome Doc, I need to do more practice with the hand drill. Like Moose so far nothing but smoke and sweat. I spent all summer and fall looking for this illusive Teasel you speak of and Mullein...finally found one small Mullein stalk. I'm thinking this was a "between" year for the Mullein, and Hoping next year will be better. I may have to go a little further north to find the Teasel. Next post I see you do on harvesting the Teasel I'm going to snag the photos.
Click to expand...

Thanks mistwalker,

Even though the Mullein (how come we don't have a 'spit' smilie?) stalk is small, you can still use it. Splice it on the bottom of another shaft.

And in reference to tonym's kiss-ass edit, he really is a great guy. I just like busting his chops. :D

Doc
 
tonym said:
I didn't know it was "call Tonym out day"..

Pay no attention to my drunkard GP, the true reason he is a master of the handrill is because of all the other solitary activities he does with his hands. Makes perfect sense that the 13 year old is good at handrill as well. Lets think, what activities were we all doing at 13.....

All this extra hand excersize is obviously great practice for the hand drill.

So yes I have never gotten the hand drill, forgive me for still being attractive to the opposite sex, and not excersizing the rapid hand motion needed for the hand drill every day.
Click to expand...

Excuses, excuses!
 
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